Distant boiler-water-level indicator



' H.`S. PAPVKS, ,DISTANT- BOILER WATER LEVEL INDICATOR.

APPLCATION-FILEU APR. I2. 191?.

Patented July 4l, E922;

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' H. S. PARKS. DIST/INT BOILER WATER LEI/EL INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APH. I2. 1917. v Patented July 4, 922

rIIHII nu NETE@ 'STATES Parent ortica,

HARRY S. PARKS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PNEUMERCATOR .\.\.`COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

DISTAN T BOILER-WATER-LEVEL INDICATOR.

' Patented July 4l, 1922.,

Application filed April 12, 1917. Serial No. 161,545.

'water or otherliquid in the boiler or tank;

the indication given thereby preferably showingthe actual height of Water in the l boiler with reference to a plane denominated the normal water. level.l vIn order to show the need and utility of such a'device, I will indicate some of t e uses to which itmay loeI applied. At the present time, so far as I am aware, the only practical boiler-waterlevel indicator is the old and universally used gage glass which is simply a glass. tube set `in front of the boiler so as to cross the plane of the surface of the water therein and connected at its ends with the. steamfspa'ce and the water space of theboiler respectively. In the operation of steam boilers,l particularly those furnishing steam forpowerv variation, since, if the water is all'owed'to rise too high in the boiler, there is danger of water being carried with the steam into the engine, while, if it is allowed to fall .too low, the integrity of the boiler is endangered. At the' same time the ordinary boiler gage glass, particularly in connection with lofty boilers and in the boiler rooms of ships, is necessarily frequently placed in positions so high above the iioor of the boiler room, or otherwise so difficult of access, that it is a matter of great difficult-y to distinguish the surface of the column of water therein. In many cases also, and this is particularly so in steamShipS, the boilerwater-level gages of the common type are so placed that they are not visible, or at least `not clearly and easily so, to the responsible steam boiler.

the boilers rise to a great height, ormay be placed in a different room such as the engine room, of a stationary or marine power plant, or in a separa-te 'office if desired; and

so connected'with the boiler and controlled by the pressures and waterheads therein as to register with accuracy the momentary water level in the boiler, whether the indicator be above or below or at the same height with the surface of the water contents of the boiler. By momentary water level in this connection, I mean the stage or height of the water surface in the boiler at the time when any observation is made, and I intend to signify thereby that the indication given by the indicator varies in exact proportion with the change in the height orv stage of water in the boiler.

While the invention may be embodied inv various forms, I have illustrated and described in this specification for the purpose of explaining the principles ofthe invention, one specic form which I have suc-v cessfully operated and which at the present time I consider preferablefto other possible forms for various reasons, among which may be named its accuracy, durability and simplicity.

In the drawings,- fA

Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating the essential parts of my apparatus and the manner of connecting the v.same .with a Figure 2 is an elevation of the preferred form f the indicator instrument Ior lindicator'proper ofthe apparatus." ,Y l Figure 3 Vis a side" elevation of such indicator instrument. .'h Y I Figure 4 is a cross section of the instrument taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2, looking downward.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the connector which forms part of my indicator apparatus.

Figure 6 is a plain View of such connector. Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the connecter. 1 1

Like reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

cally the entire apparatus and illustrates the Y principles of the same, 1l represents the front end of theuppermost drum, vor steam drum, of a tubular boiler and maybe considered as typifying that part of any-'boiler (ifi wherein the dividing surface between water stalled, I find it convenient to connect partsV of the same with the already existing pi-pes 13 and 14 which connect the gage glass with the steam and water spaces of the boiler respectively, whereby to put the apparatus in communication with these spaces.

My novel apparatus comprises` a pipe line l5, a second pipe line 16, a connecter 17 (shown in detail in Figures 5, 6 and 7) and an indicator instrument 18 (shown in-de tail in Figures 2, 3 and 4). The connecter has provision at 19 (Fig. 7) for making connection with the pipe hne 15, and similar provisions at 20 for connecting with the pipe line 16, these provisions beingconveniently tapped holes in the lower side of the connecter as shown in Figure 7. Similar provision is made at 21 for connection with a pipe 22 which makes communication with the steam space of the boiler, conveniently by beingjoined to the steam connection 13 of the gage tube 12. A useful detail of construction, consists in the .provision inside the connecter of an internal ledge23, surrounding the inner orifice of the hole 19, and the provision of fins 24, 25, on the exterior of the connecter, on opposite sides of the same, and in the same plane with said ledge. These fins are simply indices by which the position, or height with respect to the boiler water level, of the ledge may be indicated when the apparatus is installed. A pipe 26 joins the pipe line 16 with the water space of the boiler, preferably by being connected with the water connection 14 of the gage glass, or otherwise if desired.

At one end of the connector is an outlet 171, controlled by a stop cock 172, from which a drain tube 173 leads. This outlet is for the'purpose of discharging any air which may collect in the pipe 22 and in the connector, which would have the effect of preventing flow of steam in 4pipe 22.

In installing the apparatus, it is essential that the ledge 23 should be above, or at least not below, t-he normal water level of the boiler and that the connection 26 should join the pipe line 16 at a point below such The form ofindicator here shown comprises an outer tube 274 and an inner tube 28 nf transparent material,- which practically must be glass, although I do not limit mypatent protection for this part of the invention to that specific material, the former being closed at its upper end and the latter being open at both ends. vThese tubes are mounted ina frame 280, the preA ferred form of which is indicated in Figures 2. 3 and 4, such .frame having lugs 2%) by which it mayy be attached to a wall or board. The bottom of the frame is formed as or with a tubular portion 30 which is internally threaded and receives a base plug 31 which is (.fomplementally threaded eX- ternally at its upper end. The base plug has in its end a recess 32 containing a washer 33 of rubber or other material which is soft` yielding and may be made impervious to water. This waher supports the open lower end of the outer tube 27 and makes watertight contact with the edge thereof.

`The upper end of the` frame 280 has a similar tubular portion 34 into which is screwed a plug cap 35 which has a threaded passage extending entirely through it. The upper-closed end of the tube 27 extends into the part 34 and is engaged with an elastic block 36 which is preferably of rubber but may be of any other soft material capable of applying pressure to the tube without injuring it. Bearing on the plug 36 is a fol-- lower 37 of a. material which will withstand the effects lof water and is rigid. Brass is the best material for this purpose, although any other material which will not be readily affected injuriously by water may be used. This follower is preferably counterbored to receive the buffer/block 36 to confine the latterl against spreading laterally.

is large enough to permit the tube 27 and the follower 37 to be passed through it.

The inner tube 28, open at both ends, is connected at its bottom end by means of a flexible section of tubing 39 with a rigid tube V40 secured to the base and projecting upward therefrom, and its upper end is steadied by a stem or stud 42 which is secured to the interior of the outer tube on the end wall thereof and projects into the inner tube. This stem 1s preferably of rubber although it may be of any other material sufficiently soft as not to break such vbrittle substances as glass when forcibly struck thereby. In addition to holding the upper end of the inner tube steady and away from the walls of the outer tube, this stud has an additional function which will later be described.

In the base plug 32 are two passages indicated at 43 and 44 respectively, the former of which opens into the tube 40 and thence opens into the recess 32 and thence, to the tains the passage 50. The branches 47 and 51 are exhaust outlets which discharge into drip pipes 53` and 54, which may havea common outlet :if desired. Stop cocksl 56 and 57 are provided nearthose ends of the,

pipe lines which are connected to the indicatorV in order toclose such lines when the indicator is disconnected therefrom.

In operation the pipe lines 1'5 and 16`are l substantially lled with water. When first setting up the apparatus', it is desirable to lill them in advance of operation in order to shorten the time which must elapse until4 the apparatus isinfull working order, but, even ,without'this they ,will quickl;J lill with water,.the line' y,15 fromlcondens'ation of steam flowing-"therein 'from' the boiler', and

the line 16 by :the water which. is forced directly from the boilers. Assuming that" thestop cocks"56 and 57 are openandl the three-way cocks 48and 52 are set so'as to connect the pipe lines i15 and 16.y with the" outer tube and the inner' tube respectively of the indicator, then .the steam -pressure of the f boiler will force water from the 'pipe lines into these tubes, com-pressing the air entrapped therein until the pressurefof comor minus the dierence in hea between the boiler and the indicator accordin as ythe in-A dicato'r is. below or above thefboi er., respectively. Since both tub'esare'euinfree communication attheir upper v"portions, the

pneumatic pressures in both will :bethe same, but the water levels in the two tubes will be. different owing to the` diierence in headjor` height of the columns' in thepipelines 415 and 16. In the line 15,;` the column-risesto the height of the ledge 23, which, as previ-f ously stated, is above the normal boilerwater level,7wherefore said line l15 i'sjthehigh column line.- Condensation otsteaml yfrom the boilerl maintains the'head o'f this col-i* umn at the height of the'fledge and this height is f fxed." Such condensation takes place in the pipev 22, and tollinsure that 'enough steam will be vso condensed 'tomain tain the column up to the level'lof the over- How, theA pipe 22 viscarried outin thev form',l of a loop away from the boiler. The column'l cannot rise any higher than this because all excess of water over-Hows the ledge and runs through the connection 17 into the pipe line 16. Said connection is thus in effect an overflow from the head of the column in the line 15. lIn the pipe line 16,'however, the column of water rises only to the height of the actual momentary water' level in the boiler, by reason of the fact that this l-ine .the level in the inner tube by exactly this difference. VSince both water columns are acted upon by the same steam pressure at their heads, and are balanced by the same equal pneumatic pressure in the indicator,

the difference in head between the two col-' umns is free to produce a corresponding dif- `ference between the levels of water in the two tubes of the indicator, and, when the vheight of the column in the pipe line 16 changes, the height of the water column in .the inner` tube of the indicator changes equally and almost simultaneously. This vresult is obtained whatever may be the position of the indicator, whether it is above or lbelow or at the same level with the surface ,of the water in the boiler. The only limit to the position of the indicator is that it cannot be placed above the height to which the boiler pressure will force a column of water, lbut itv'can be placed at any depth below the boiler, theoretically without limit and practically limitedv only by thepower of the pression is equal to the boiler ressure plus"v indicator and connections to withstand the Ainternal pressure.

"It will be noted in Figure 1 that the tubes 'or pipelines 15 and 16 are separated at all points not onlyfrom the boiler, but also from external contact with. the boiler steam; in other words, they are insulated by the -air ,surrounding them from the heat of the steam. This insulation of the pipe lines from heat is `an essential characteristic vof `theA invention, although whether the insulaftion 1s caused'by a surrounding body of air yby other means is-notrmaterial, since it i'iisures that the water in the. pipes will 'be at a temperature far below the boiling point, yand that there will be no dangerof vitiating the readings of the instrument by genera- -tion of, steam in either or both of the pipe yyKlitreferably I provide a scale in-connection withthe indicator so as to show by direct readingva variation of the momentary water ,level'without requiring a comparison between the levels in the two tubes. Such scale as shown. here is a plate 59 adaptedl a plate secured to the frame Q80. Said scale plate 59 has a lip Gliat one edge which embraces the guide plate 6() and at the other side has a hook GQ embracing the opposite edge ot' the guidel plate and formed with a shank on which is threaded a knurled head 63. Thereby the scale may be shifted vertically and secured in any position. This scale has a graduation niark G1 representing the normal boiler-water level and an index A65 at the same distance above the normal level graduation as the ledge 23 of the apparatus is above the plane at which it is designed to maintain the surface oic the wa ter in the boiler, that is the actual normal boiler-water level. In addition, there may Vbe other giaduations measuring distances above and below the graduation 64 so as to measure the actual distance by which the momentary Water level may rise above or fall below the normal level. When the apparatus is first put in full working order, the scale 59 is shifted until the index 65 is beside the top of the column in the outer indicator tube. Thereafter the top of the column in the inner tube automatically shows in connection with the scale graduations the exact variation and the amount thereof ofl the momentary boiler water level from the normal level -in either direction. Inv order to facilitate the reading of the indicator, I provide a colored float 66 which rests on the column. in the inner tube and is easily visible through the surrounding annular column of water in the outer tube.

The tubes of the indicator may readily be drained by turning, the stop cocks so as to connect these tubes respectively, with the drip pipes 53 and 54 and at the same time shut off the pipe lines. The three-way cocks also may be set so as to shut ofi the indicator from both the pipe lines and the drip outlets. In opening the connections from the pipe lines to the indicator after the latter has been drained, it is possible to do so in such a way that the water enters so rapidly that the momentum of the fioat thus suddenly raised will throw the same to the top of the indicator and possibly breakit.

The stud or stem 42 previously described acts as a buffer for the float in such case and arrests its rise without breakage.

So many possible modifications may be made from the specific form of apparatus here shown, which at the same time contain the principles of' the invention, that I do not limit the invention to the details of the apparatus shown, but include modifications embodying the essential principles and capable of accomplishing essentially the same results as this apparatus. Thus, for example, any form of indicator capable of showing the difference between two pressures ma be used. This indicator is essentially a di erential gage, and in the form shown is essentially an inverted U tube of which one of the legs is made so large as to include the other. This form is preferable to one in which the legs are side by side, partielllarly in s teamships where changes in the inclination of the ship would introduce errors in the indications ot' such a tube. Such errors are eliminated by the coaxial arrangement of the legs here shown. However. in place of an inverted U tube of any form, I may use other types of differential gage, including those of the well lknown spring tube and diaphragm types, wherefore l include within my claim to protection an apparatus having any type of differential gage, recording as well asindicating gages. It is of course also understood that the connections between the pipe lines and the indicator may be4 reversed from that shown so that the inner tube may indicate the fixed level and the outer tube the momentary level.

Likewise. in place of the specific connector 17, many other constructions may be used. It is necessary in this part of the invention 90 that the height of the column in the pipe line 15 should be limited by some means so as to remain4 stationary at a fixed point, while the column in the other pipe line is caused to vary with the actual momentary height of the water in the boiler. To secure this result, I conceive it necessary that the tops of both columns should be exposed to the confined boiler pressure, that there should be an overfiow at a fixed point above the normal boiler-water level from one of the pipe lines, and that the other pipe line should be connected at a point well below such level with the water space of the boiler. And an important factor contributory to 105 the result statedis that the water from the condensing pipe 22 should drop directly into the high column pipe line 15, wherefore the point 21 at which pipe 22 joins the connector 17 is directly above the point 19 at 110 which the pipe line 15 joins the connector. However .the overflow from the .connector may be released and taken care of by other means than by a gravity flow into the pipe line of the variable column. It might, for 115 example, be returned directly to the boiler, or released otherwise through a trap, of which any one of several known types are available for the purpose.

The terni pipe line includes any conduit 120 or conducting means adapted tocontain pressuretransmitting fluid and to support a columnl of the same and transmit the pressure thereof to an indicator. lSo far as the inventionis concerned, the pressure-transmit- 125 ting fluid is not necessarily limited to water, although water is'naturally the fiuid which would be used. In case of the employment of Aanother fluid having a different specific gravity, the indications registered by the inv1.30

. dicator would be prop-ortionallyvgreater or less than the actual variations in the boiler.

The term tubular as used in the claims to describe the elements 27 and 28 of the indicator is not'to be understood yas limiting the form of these elements in any way, whether as to size, shape, arrangement or otherwise. It has already been pointed out that these elements form essentially an inverted U tube and that any form of U tube is included within the scope of my claims. It may be also noted that in the specific type of inverted U tube indicator here shown, the' outer tube is a hermetically sealed chan1ber,"and that the inner tube is a column-containing element. Eachl of these, -tubes may have any shape 1n cross section,

non-circular as well as circular if desired, and may be of Iany dimensions and relative sizes.- While it is preferable that Aeach tubular member should be of the same area in cross section throughout the greater part of its length, in order that the same scale may be used without correction in all circumstances, except for adjustment as to position f according to the height atiwhich theindica'- toris placed .or the steam pressure which is carried in the boiler, yet it is possible to make the tubes otherwise and compensate for differences inA cross section thereof at diierent points by suitable calibration or correction .of the scale.

l Included within. the definition of the term `l steam boiler are included all equivalent containers in-which liquid is held under the pressure of its vapor generated by heat, and the condensate of? .the vapor is caused to maintain -a column of fixed height adapted to act upon a differential indicator, which is also acted upon by a column of theliquid rising to the height of the liquid level in the container; the apparatus otherwise haiving the characteristics pointed out in the claims. VVhlat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i 1. A means for indicating the level of water in a steam boiler comprising twov rising pipe lines adjacent to one another and exposed to substantially the same external -ing differences of pressure comprising an .outer tube open at its lower end 'and closed temperature, lower than the boiling point of water, one of said pipe lines being connected with the boiler below the normal water level therein. and the other rising above the said normal level and adapted to contain a high 'water column of fixed height, a condensing pipe leading from the steam space of the boiler and arranged mainly above the head of said high column pipe line with its discharge outlet arranged to drip into said pipe line, whereby the latter is kept full to overflowing, a separate connection below the outlet of said condensing pipe arranged to conduct away such overflow,- and a differential indicator connected to the two Dipe lines and adapted to show the difierence between the momentary boiler water level and the lheight of. said high watel` column. p n

2. An indicating mefa'nsfas set vforth in claim l in which the condensing pipe extends 1n the form of a loop away 'from theboiler.

3. A boiler waterlevel indicating means 4 over the head of the hi'g'h column'pipe line,

wherebyl -to discharge the condensate thereinto, -a'normally closed. venting outlet from i A.Said connector .adapted v.todisch-arge entrapped air therefrom, and lan'-.indicator'finstrument connected to the two pipe lines and constructed with provisions for showing the difference between thel "actual boiler` water level and column. I

4. The combination with a boiler otra pipe line in communication with the steam space of the boiler having4 an overflow outlet at a point whichis located at: a lmown level above the normal boiler water level, a second pipe line connected with the boiler belpw the said normal level, and a dierential'indicator comprising an outer chamber closed at-its top 4and Vconnectedat its bottom rWith the extremity of one'of said pipe lines, whereby to receive a column of water rising froml said pipe line, and acolumn container rising from the extremity of thev other pipe line withinvsaid chamber and adapted to contain also aA column of water, said column container being open at its upper end and the chamber column container both holding anentrapped body of gas above their containedcolumns of water.

5.-i.n indicator instrument for measurat its upper end, rising means connected to said lower end and arranged to deliver a column of liquid to said tube, an inner tube within said outertube and open' at its upper end, and rising vmeans connected. to the lower end of said inner tube and adapted to admit the' head ofl the 4high water ice a column of liquid thereto, said tubes containing an entrappedbody of gas in their upper ends, l'opposing the rise of said liquid.

6.A In' a distant water level indicator, an.

indicator instrument comprising a frame, a base havmgan annular seat 1n said frame, a tube closed at its upper end and open at its lower end making contact with said base,

means for applying pressure to the. closed end of said tube, and an inner tube within the first named tube open at both ends, said base having two passages one of which opens into the first named tube and the other of water which rises to an invariablevheight and is subjected to the steam pressure of the boiler, a second pipe line connected with the other of said elements and with the water space of the boiler,'whereby said elements are caused to measure the difference in head between the column in the first pipe line and the actual level 'of water'in the boiler and a scale having graduations one of which designates the normal level of water and the other isat a fixed distance therefrom proportional to the difference between the head of the column in the first pipe line and the plane of the normal' boiler water level.

8. In a boilerwater level indicator, the combination with two'water column containing elements, a pipe line connected with one of said elements and containing a column of water which rises to an invariable height v and is subjected to the 4steam pressure of a' boiler, a second pipe line connected with the' other of said elements and with the water space of the boiler, whereby said Velements are caused to measure the difference in head between the column in the first pipe line andy the actual lev el of water in the boiler, and a scale having graduations one of which designates the normal level of water and the other is at a fixed distance therefrom proportional to the difference between the head of the column in the first pipe line and the plane of the normal boiler water level, said scalebeing adjustable along said tubular elements whereby the last named graduation may be placed beside the level of the column in one of said elements. j

9. A boiler water level indicator comprising -two tubes each adapted to contain a water column. being in communication at their upper ends with one another and connected at their lower ends with water-containing pipe lines, being otherwise hermetically sealed, and a-scale adjustably mounted adjacent to said tubes and having graduations corresponding respectively to the plane of normal water leve.l in a-steam boiler and a fixed point above such plane.

vl0. An indicator instrumentcomprising a frame having a base with two passages through it. an outer tube closed at its upper end and fixed to said frame with its interior in conin'iunication with one of said passages and being otherwise hermetically sealed. an inner tube contained within the first-named tube open at its upper end and connected with the' other of' said passages, land a scale mounted beside said outer tube with provision for longitudinal adjustment.

, 11. An` indicator instrument comprising a within'the outer tube and connected at its lower end with the other of said passages.

' 12. An indicator instrument comprisinga frame having a base provided with two passages, a compressib'le gasket on said base surrounding such passages, a tube having one'end closed and the other end open, arranged with its open end bearing on said gasket, a follower adjustably mounted in said frame bearing. on the closed end of said tube, and an inner tube open at both ends and contained within the outer tube and connected at its lower end with the other of said assages, and a oat in the inner tube adaptedito. be supported by the column of liquid therein. y

13. ,An indicator instrument comprising a frame having a base provided with two passages, a compressible gasket on said base surrounding such passages, a tube having one end closed and the other end open, arranged with its open end bearing on said gasket, a follower adjustably mounted in said frame bearing on the closed end of said tube, and an'inner tube open at both ends contained within the outer tube and connected at its lower end with the other of said passages and a stud secured to the closed end of the outer tube and projecting' -neeted at its lower end with the other of .said passages, a fioat contained in the inner tube adapted t0 rest on the top of the column of liquid therein, and a stud secured to the closed end of the outer tube and projecting into the upper nnd of the inner tube for holding the latter steady and also serv f ing as a buffer forsaid float.

l5. The combination with a boiler of two pipe lines. a substantially horizontal con nec-tor attached to both pipe lines and l'r'u ing a ledge surrounding the orifice to one of said lines, a connection from the upper side of said connector to the steam space of the boiler, a connection from the second of said pipe lines to the water'space of the boiler, and a differential indicator connected to both pipe lines. Y 16. A connector for a distant boiler water level indicator having an interior chamber, two connections opening into one side of said chamber and'one connection opening into the other side of the chamberI` said connector also having a ledge surrounding the orifice of one of the two connections firstnamed.

17. A connector for a distant boiler water level indicator having an internal chamber, two connections opening into one side of said chamber and one connection opening 4into the-.other side of the chamber, said connector also having a ledge surrounding the orifice of one of the two connectionsfirst named and having an external index in the same plane with said ledge.

ranged to be directly over one of the two p firstmamed connections when the connector 1s 1n operative position.

19. In a dlstant boiler water level indi-Y cating apparatus the combination with twoA substantially upright pipe lines of asubstantially horizontal connector into the 11nder side of which the upper ends of' said pipe lines are joined, the'entrance to one of said pipe lines being raised above the interior bottom of the connector and also above the entrance to the other pipe line, and a' condensing pipe joined to the upper side of the connector directly over the said raised pipe line entrance.

In testimony whereof l have affixed my signature.

HARR Y S. PAR KS. 

